Type-writing machine.



B. c. STICK NE-YL TYPE WRITING MACHINE. -APPLICAT|ON FILED AUG-4, I914.

lNVENTOR:

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

II. N N WW W ITNESSES:

WITNESSES:

B. C. STICKNEYI TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.4. 1914.

' 1,227,01 5. Patented May 22, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

gzflgw FIG. 3. mvmhon;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

:BUBN AM c. STICKNEY, or nmzmsn'rnyimw' JERSEY, assienor. r

'rYrEwm'rEacoMrANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A coaroaerroaz Specification ofLetters Patent.

TYPE-'WRITING MACHINE.

Pater: ted May 22, 1917.

A pplicatiqn filed August 4, 1914. Serial No. 854,929.

Tooll whom ito'nag concern:

Be it knownthat I, BU-RNHAM OQS'r roK- NEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Elizabeth, in 'the county of Union and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inType-Writing Machines, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to' type actions for typewriting machines, inwhich the typebars strike upon a visiblesideof the platen,

as for instance, on thefront thereof- The object of the invention is toproducea highly. compact machine of this class,'particularly with aviewto reducing theheight of the machine to permit it to' be packed in asatchel or small case, for the use of travelers.

.The invention is illustrat'ed'in connection:

with a platen in which the printing line is on the front side. The typesare mounted upon type-bars pivoted in an are 'below the platen. Thetype-bars may be of the short variety, three types being preferablyplaced upon each ban-so as to permit fewer-bars to be used, andotherwise to vc'onduce to compactness. The platen may be'shifted up anddown inany usual manner; although the type-bars may be, shifted up anddown instead of the platen; or'the platen may be connected to thetype-bars by forwardly extending connections. These connections maycomprise bell-cranks, or sub-levers, and by reason of their arrangementbehind the typebars present arr-"advantage over pr or machines, in whichthe bell-cranks. were ar-.

ranged below the type-bars, and added to the height of the machine. Theconstruction may be such that the only.v portions that extend beneaththe type-bar segment are the 5.0

key levers themselves, whereby the'height of the machine may besubstantially reduced.

' The key levers are. preferably. connected up to the type-bars in-such'a manner that considerable movement'of the key is us'ed'in front-strikewriting machine starting thetype-bar, and that the speed of .the latteris accelerated when it strikes the platen. To this end, the key lever ismade in elbow form, and at the bend. of the elbow is pivoted uponthefhorizontal arm of a bell-- crank, the latter having an upright armwhich is connected by a forwardly extend ing linkdirectly to thetype-bar. The keylever comprlses an arm extending upwardly from saidpivot, and the upper end of said arm is pivoted to an idlelink, which isso related to the bell crank that. the desired acceleration'of thetype-bar is effected.

Another feature of the invention isan arrangement whereby the height ofchine is still further reduced; and this feature may be used inconnection with other forms of key levers. Thebank of key leverslsplaced preferably one level higher than the ma- 7 .the middle of thetype-bar system. The low-' est type-bars; are at the centerof thetypebar system, andf'the middle key levers are bowed or.bentconsiderably to one side, to

middle type-bars may lie. When any, key is depressed, its key lever willdescend but. little, any, below the bottom of the type-- bar basket, andhence material reduction form an opening or well within which said may.be efiected in the height 'of the machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagramto illustrate thetype-bars may be shifted up and down for securing capitals and figures.

' Fig. 2 is a sectionalside elevation of a improvements. I

Fig; 3 is a plan of the key-leverand typebar systems, showing the wellformed by bowing or bending the middle kev levers to permit the middletype-bars to sink below the upper edges of the key-levers. Fig. '4 is-adiagrammatic front elevation illustrating how most of the type-bars maybe allowed to sink below the level of. the upper bank ofvkeys. Keys 1,which may be arranged inthree banks, are preferably mounted on stems 2rising-from the'frontends of levers or kevbars 3,-which are in the formof elbows,- each that ' embodying my comprising an upstanding arm 4 atits rear end. Each v key lever is pivoted at its elbow atfr to aguide-link which may constitute ,able .way; as for instance. they maybemounted on a fulcrum rod 1 1, fixedin a segment 15. and may strikerearwardly against the platen 16, which maybe shiftable up and: down. asindicatedin dotted lines at Fig. 2- to enable different types to print;

three types 17 being shownaon each type-' bar.

At its upper end. each of the arms 4 of the key levers is pivoted at 18to an idle or guide link 19. These idle links 19 may-be shorter than thearm 6 of the bell-cranks, and may extend upwardly and forwardly from a.

horizontal pivot rod 20 fixed in the machine. It will be seen that thearm 4: operates as a link between 19 and 6. and is capable of nearlyparallel up and down motion upon said members 19 and 6: but, owing tothe fact that the link 19 is short so that' it moves in a forwardly anddownwardly inclined path. the upper end of lswings forwardly as well'asdownwardly at the beginning of the down stroke of the key. whereby thefront end of the key lever 3 is given a downward tip at this time. sothat the key 1 descends about one'half of its stroke while the type-bar13 is makingthe first one fourth of its printing stroke. to reach theposition 13. Fig. 2. thus affording: an easy start to the key.

i The idle or guide link 19 is so short that during the subsequentportion of the printing stroke of the key. the pivot 18 moves downin'nearly a vertical path, and hence all portions of the structure 1. 2.3 and 4 which are mounted upon the members 19 and 6 move down verynearly in. parallelism. so that the speed of the key itself relativelyto the speed ofthe type-bar is reduced: or. in other words. the speed ofthe type arm is accelerated.

At 1 is shown the position of the key when the type is at 13. At 1 isshown the key position when the type has made onehalf of its stroke asat 13*; the key at this time having made three-fourths or more of itsstroke. I v

During the final portion of the key stroke the path of the pivot 18 maybe downwardly. and a trifle to the rear. in comparis on with thedownward path of the pivot 5 thereby rocking the upper portion of thearm 4 rearwardly as said arm descends and tending thereby to tip upthefront portion of the key lever, and effect a relative lift of the key 1,or in other words,

to retard the descent of said key. so that the proportional movement ofthe type-barat this time is much more rapid than the movement of thekey. The type-bar is shown at 13 as having made three-fourths of itsstroke, while the key is shown at 19 as having made three-fourths of itsown stroke; and the last fourth of the stroke of the type-bar is madeduring a very short final movement of the key. This relative-reductionin the speed ofthe key tends to cushion the stroke, that is. to avoidjar to'the finger of the operator when the key isfinally ar rested bythe contact of the type with the platen. AtFig. 2. the printingpositions of the parts arealso shown. in dotted lines! The key ismounted to float upon "links 6 and 19, and connection is made from thetype-bar to some portion of that linkage a which comprises members 6, 1and 19. In

the particularconstruction shown, connection is'made from the type-bardirectly :to arm 7 connected to the link 6, althoughthe scope of the.invention is not limited to that particular arrangement. The bell-crankcomprising the'arnr'i'and link 6 forms an interponent through which themovement of the key lever is transmitted 'to the link 10 and type-bar. 1

One of the features of the linkage is that it comprises an upstandingarm 4 provided upon the key-lever; and that said arm is guided up anddown by links, whereby the key-lever or key-bar as a whole is givenanup-and-down floatingmovement. The typebar is connected by a link 10and arm 7 to one member of the linkage G. l. 19. whereby the up-and-downbodily movements of the keyle er are converted into forward and backwardmovements of the type-bar link 10.

As seen best at Fig.3. the/two middle keys-levers in' thc system arebowed between their front and rear portions to form an opening.clearance or well QL'wit'hin which sink the middle type-bars 13 when innormal positionscz said type-bars being preferably arranged to swingdown through more than 90 degrees from the printing positions. in orderto make clearance for the types when in normal positions, 'to permitshort type-- bars to be used. The middle key-levers may be bowed farenough to leave a clear space beneath nearly all of-the types in thesystem, as at Fig.3.s'o that'as many type-bars as may be desired mayliedown inthe space 21, left by bowing said levers. The bowing, of themiddle levers may be carried back- A as far as necessary. In the presentinstance,

it is illustrated as'not carried back ofthe entire type bar, since onlythe forwardpor-' tions of'the type-bars extend down in. theop'eni11g,o\ving to the normal inclination of the type-bar forward anddownward from its pivot. Each of the middle key-levers may thereforecomprise a forwardly and rearwardly extending key-bearing portion 3, alaterally extending portion 3 a rearwardly extending portion 3 very mucholl-set from the main portion 3 of the lever, a lateral rehirnportion 3and arear main portion 3,

:- standing arm 4'. Suitable guide-combs 22 my be providedfor the frontends of the Myers, 23 for the rearends, and24l for the upper ends ofarms-4c.

The two. key-downs adjoining the middle l'clft't'ii may be bowed or bentin the same the bowing need. not be so much .1 om the main body of thelever. The pair of levers may be bowed stilhless, ind, so on, the bowedportions forming anest, as seen at Fig. 3. The outside levers neednot bebowed; but at suitable points all: be bent inwardly at their rearportions, at? so that the rear portions 3 of all s may be about paralleland form systein' of aboutthe same width as the tem of type-bars attheir fulcrums or vots on the rod H. The links may work in substantiallyparallel vertical 7 planes; as seen at .Fig. 3. and owing to thedescribed arrangenient there is little or no liability of-side strain orbinding of any of .the parts. The outside keys are oil-set considerablyfrom the rear portions. of their l ey-lev -:rs, but this willnot be anobjection, owing to the fact that each key-lever moves bodily up anddown throughout all portions, a-ndis mounted upon freely'moving guidelinks, and provided with suitable guides particularly those near thekeys themselves. The type basket 23 may belof suitable flexiblematerial, as customary in. this art,

' and maybe properly supported to underlie '49.. the type-bars 13.including those which exj tend down into the opening or well 21 111 thekey-lever system, as will be understood from v Fig. 2. .r r p At Fig. 1the type system is indicated as being movable up and down to enablediffrent types toprint, the segment 15 shiftray be usedqwithout others.

m the rear end of which is formed-thethe invention, and portionsof the sdescribed my invention,

a. tyne ba for type risng ermine COPY machines, in combination, arearwardlystriking type-bar, a, key lever havlng a free arm extendingforwardly from its fulcrum and provided at its forward end with a key, 7said lever depressible throughout its length in nearly. parallel planes,actuating meaiis for "said type bar, operating means between said keylever and type baractuating means,

and means whereby said key lever is given a forwardly accentuatmgoscillatory movement about its fulcrum when its keyis'depressed, wherebythe. speed of the key rela tive to the speed of the type-bar modified,

to ease the initialandfinal portions ofits I stroke.

2. In a type-bara'ction for typewrit-ing machines, in combination, a.rearwardlystriking type-bar, a key lever having'a free arm extendingforwardly from its fulcrum and provided at its forward .end with a key,

said lever depressible throughout its length in nearly parallel planes,actuating means for said typebar,'operating means between said key leverr and actuating means, and

means connectedv with said key lever where by the latter, when the keyis depressed, 1s

givena forwardly accentuating oscillatory 1 movement about its fulcrum,whereby, the

speed of the ,key relative to the. Speed of the type-bar is modified, toease the initial and final portions ofits stroke. a i

3. In a'type-bar action machines, in combination, a rearwardlys strikingtype-bar, a-key .lever, means -to guide the key lever and cause it to-bedepressed throughout its'length in nearly parallel planes, the fulcrumofthe lever being carried downward as the lever is depressed,

actuating means for-said type-ban: operating means between said keylever and type-baractuating means, a yert-ical ektensionlfor said keylever, "and alink pivoted to said eX- ten'sion and having a fixedfulcrum, said link arranged to imparta forwardly 'RQCQHt-Uiltt mgoscillatory movement to said lever about its fulcrum during -"-S211Clfirst-mentioned,

for typewritmg' movement of the lever,zto ease theinitial and finalportionsof the levers stroke.

'4. In a type-bar action. for "typewritingmachines, in combination, aswinging typebar, a horizontal key lever ;d epressible throughout itslength, actuating means be tween said lever and type-bar for operatingthe latterby the downward movement of the lever at its pointof'conuection with said means, and means for oscillating said leverabout said point ofconnection as a'fulcrum coincidently"withysaiddepression- Of the leyer, to accelerate the speed of movement of saidtype-bar toward. the end of its. stroke relativ' ely' to the-speed ofmo'vemcnt of said leverl 5 .,Ina

type-bar action for typewriting mach'ines,- in ctnnbmation,aswingingfipe bar," a" 'liorizontal. keyf lever depressed and actuated by thedownward movement of the lever at its point of connection with the bellcrank, a-link connecting said bell crank and type-bar to actuate thelatter by the former, and means for oscillating said key levercoincidently with its depression to accelerate the speed of movement ofsaid typebar toward the end of its stroke relatively to the speed ofmovement of said key lever.

7. In a type-bar action for typewriting machines, in combination, aswinging typebar, a horizontal key lever. depressible throughout itslength, a bell crank pivoted to said lever to support and guide the.latter and actuated by the downward movement of the lever at its pointof connection with the bell crank, a link connecting said bell crank andtype-bar to actuate the latter by the former. and pivotal meansoperating through a smaller arc than said bell crank, to oscillate saidkey lever coincidently with its depression, thereby accelerating thespeed of movement of said type-bar toward the end of its strokerelatively to the speed of moveiont of said key lever. v

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a seriesofrearwairdly striking type-bars, a series of horizontal key levers eachdepressible throughoperating with said bell cranks 'out itslength, aseries of bell cranks pivotally'supportingand guiding said key leversand located behind said type-bars, means coto cause the key levers to bedepressedthroughout their length when their keys are depressed, and a,

series of links connecting said bell cranks 'aml'tyqm-bars to actuatethe latter by the former. v

1 9. The combination with a system of typebars. of a system ofkey leversextending back beneath the type-bars and connected thereto. said systemof key levers having an openingwithin which some of the type-barsnormally project below the upper level of' the type-bars at saidopening, to effect economy in the height of the machine.

ltlfiln a front-strikewriting machine, the combination with type-bars.of key levers extending rearwardly beyond tlie type-bars and havingupstanding arms at their rear ends, said arms forming portions oflinkkey levers key lever.

11. In a type-bar action for typewriting machines, a rearwardly strikingtype-bar, a depressible horizontal key lever having a shiftingf'ulcrum,-means for controlling and guiding the key lever to causeabodily .downward movement thereof of nearly equal extent throughout itslength when the key is depressed, a link extending rearwardly from thetype-bar and operable by a forward thrust thereon to actuate saidtype-bar, and a swinging operative connection between said key lever andlink.

12. In a front-strike writing machine, the combination with type-bars,of depressible extending rearwardly beyond the type-bars, linkagesconnected to the key le' vers and guiding them in their up and downmovements, the key levers having upstandating connection between eachtype-bar and its key lever and linkage.

, 13. In a front-strike writing machine, the

combination with type-bars, of depressible key leversextendingrearwardly beyond the type-bars, linkages connected to the keylevers, and guiding them in their up and down movements, the key levershaving upstanding arms at their rear ends, said arms forming portions ofthe linkages, each key lever being connected through its linkage to thetype-bar for operating the latter.

14. In a front-strike writing machine. the combination with type-bars.of depressiblc key levers extending rearwardly beyond the type-bars,linkages connected to the key levers and guiding them in their up anddown movements. the key levers having upstanding arms at their rear endsforming portions of the linkagesreach key lever being connected throughits linkage to the typebar for operating the latter by the downwardmovement of the lever at a point of connection with a linkage. the keylever and linkage being so arranged that the movement of the forward endof the key lever relative to the movement at said point of connection tothe linkage is comparatively stroke and decreases during the type-stroketo thereby acceleratethe stroke of the typebar. I i

15. In a front-strike writing machine. the

' great during the initial portion of the typecombination withtypc-bars. ot' dcprcssiblc key levers extending rearwardly beyond thetype-bars, and linkages connected to the key levers and guiding them intheir up and down movements. the key levers having upstanding arms attheir rear ends forming BEST AVAILABLE cop portions of the linkages,each linkage comeprising a .bell crank, 'one farm of which is--.conne,cted totthe type-ban I combination withtype-bars, ofdepressible key levers extending rearwardly beyond the "type-bars,linkages connectedfto the key le vers and -guiding them in their up anddown movements, the key, levers having upstanding arms at theirrear"ends formingporand its. key leverand linkage, and fixed guides for. theupper rear portions,' the lower rearxpOrtiQnsa-nd the front portions ofthe key levers. Y t f,

17. In. a frontestrike writingmachine, the combinationwith type-bars, ofdepressible key levers extending,rearwardly beyond thetype-bars,linkages connected meet key le ve'rs and guiding them in theirup downmovements, the key levers havingnpstanch ing arms at their ends forniingporl tions of the linkages, angl ineansforining an operativeconnection.between each type-- and key lever and linkage, and fixedguiefor the upper rear portions, the lower rear portions and the frontportions of the key levers. I 1

19. In a type-bar action for typewrlting 1naohines, the combination witha key lever, of a support .on whichthe keyleveris fulcrunied, saidsupport shii'table up and down to permit the key lever to move bodilyldownwnrd whenthe key is'depressed, a typebar, means whereby the bodilymovement of th'e key lever is effective to actuate the typebar. andguiding means for the key lever to cause a tilting movement thereofabout its fulcrum in combination with said bodily movement. the degreeof said tilting move-- ment relative to said bodily movement be ingvariable during the type-stroke to control the relative speed of thetype-bar and key. i 20. In a'type-bar action for ty'pevvrit ngniachinesgthe combination with a key lever and sii type-bar oi aninteiponent on which thekey lever is fulcrnnied, means cooperatmg withsaid interponent to guide the keyv v ,16; Ina front-strike writingmachine, the

tions ofthe linkages, means forming an 019- '4 erative connectionbetween each type-bah bar and its key lever linkagflsaidkey lever systemhaving an openingj'for-elear ance, within which some o flth'etype-bar's" to economize the height of the key lethe type-bar toactuate" theiatter, eaid ofa bell-crank on one arm of which the. key

lever and cause's'aid into onen't' to be moved downwardly at said fucrl'il'n'f by the key lever-when itsfkey is depressed, and means totransmit said downward movement mentioned means arranged to cams-e anosci 1 lati'n g movement of the ke 'le'ves' about its fulcrum, wherebythe spee of the key relative tothat of the type-bar is increased duringthe initial. portionof the-type stroke, and reduced during thefinalportion of the type! stroke. p I

21. In atype-bar action for typew'riting machinesthe eom binatich witha: key lever,-, of abell-crank' on onearni of which" the key lever isfulcr IHIGCLiElQHiiS cooperating with the bellcran to guide thekeylevenand .ea'nse itto'b'e moved bodily downward and;

swingthe bell-crank when the key is depressed, a type-bar, and 'meansconnecting the other arm of the bell-crank to thety ebar to transmit themotion'of the bell'crank to thetypebar to actuate the latter.

, 22. In a type-bar action for typewriting machines,.the combinationwitha"key lever,., 0

lever is fnljcrumed, means cooperatingawit the bell-crank to guide the;key. a er and cause it to be. moved bodily down-Lard. and swingthebell-crank when the .key is de- 5,

.' pressed, 'a type-bar, and means connecting the'other armhf thebell-crank to the type-' bar to transmit the motion of thebell-crank' tothetype-ba-r to "actuate the, latter, said i-gn'iding means arranged toose illate the key lever ahoutitsfulcrnm on theoelhcrank during thedepression ,ofthe key lever, and thereby variably control the speed ofthe key relative to the type-bar. i

23; -In a'typebar action-for typewriting 5" machines, the combinationwith a type-bar, of means to actuate the type-bar comprising a key leverhaving a key located in front. of the type-bar, said lever extendingrear wardly beyond the type-bar, a'support-on which the key lever is:t'nlci'umed, saidsupport shifta-ble up and down 'topermit the. keylever to be carried downward bodily when thekey is depressed, said leverhaving 4 at its rear end an upstanding arm, and guid- '11s ing meansconnected-to said arm and arranged to swing the arm forwardly during theinitial portion oi the type-stroke, where by a tilting movement of thekey lever about I its fulcrum is effectedin combination with 12gits'bodily downward movement, to permit a slow movement of the type-barrelatively to the key at thebeginning of the type stroke. i

24. in a typebar action, for typewriting machines, the combination witha rear-, wardly striking type-bar, of a key located forward of thetype-bar, a key bar'carrying said key and extending rearwardly beyondthe end of the type-bar, meansto support and guide thcQsa'hlkey bar andcause it to be wd bodilydownwardwrhcn the key is depressed; a thrustlinkglalnlincans to transinit said increment, oi the key bar to the 5thrust link and impart a forward thrust thereto. 'thelink being operableby said forward thrust to actuate the type-bar.

25,111 a type-bag action-Jo]: typewriting nmchines. the combinationwitha type-bar,

I0 of'a Key locat kq 'ward of the type-bane kejzlwbar gnu! key andextending BEST AVAILABLE COP 'rearwardly beyond.the -type-bar, .abellcrank hayingl an atin toxwhich said; key bar is piyot'ed',sa;id armhaving an up and down l5 motement atits point of connection with projectbelow the upper level of the key levers, to effect economy in the heightof the machine.

2S.- The combination with a system of the bar, means cooperating withsaid bellcrank to guide the" key bar and cause a bodily dow'mrardfiiiovenient of the bar when the key is depressed, said bell-crankcomprising 7 l y an arm haying a forward and rearward movement, anda'link connecting said lastnamed arm with thetype-bar for actuating thelatter.

'26. The combination with a system of type-bars, of a system of key leers'comprising a set of keys located in front of the type-bars. said keylevers extending rearwardly beneath the type-bars and connected thereto,the mner key levers being (ifi'set laterally to provide an openingwithin' which some of the type-bars normallyi project, whereby theheight of the space required beneath the type-bars for the key leyers,is reduced, to effect economy in the height of the machine.

27. The combination with a system of type-bars arranged to swingupwardly and rearwardly to a'common printing center, the type-barsnormally lying in an arc with the central type-bars 'at a lowerelevation than "the outlying typ'e-bars, of a system of key leverscomprising a set of keys located in front of the type-bars, said leversextending rearwardly beyond the type-bars,'the inner key levers beingoffset laterally to provide an opening in the system of levers, intowhich opening the inner type-bars normally project below the upper levelof the key levers, to effect economy in the height of the-j machine, theoutlying key levers gbeing oiiset inwardly to reduce the width of thesystem of key levers in rear of the type-bars BUR-NHAM C. STICKNEY.

Vitnesses F. E. ALEXANDER, E. A. RENNIE.

